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Kural #369

Virtue· அறம்Curbing Desire· அவாவறுத்தல்

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Tamil text

இன்பம் இடையறாது ஈண்டும்

அவாவென்னும் துன்பத்துள் துன்பங் கெடின்

Iṉpam iṭaiyaṟātu īṇṭum

Avāveṉṉum tuṉpattuḷ tuṉpaṅ keṭiṉ

English translation

Uninterrupted happiness will accumulate here if the sorrow that is called desire is destroyed.

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Explanation

Desire is described as துன்பத்துள் துன்பம் - the sorrow within sorrow, the root suffering. When this fundamental suffering is eliminated, unbroken இன்பம் (happiness) naturally gathers.

விளக்கம்

ஆசைதான் எல்லாத் துன்பத்துக்கும் மூலம். ஆசையை அழித்தால், தொடர்ந்து இன்பம் கிடைக்கும். ஆசை இல்லாவிட்டால் மன அமைதி உண்டாகும். இது அவாவறுத்தல் அதிகாரத்தில் சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Word meanings

  • இன்பம்iṉpamhappiness
  • இடையறாதுiṭaiyaṟātuwithout interruption
  • ஈண்டும்īṇṭumwill accumulate here
  • அவாavādesire
  • என்னும்eṉṉumcalled
  • துன்பத்துள்tuṉpattuḷwithin sorrow
  • துன்பம்tuṉpamsorrow
  • கெடின்keṭiṉif destroyed

Story behind this kural

In a sun-drenched village nestled beside a whispering river, lived two farmers, Arun and Bala. Arun possessed a small plot, content with his harvest. Bala, however, craved more. He yearned for the largest field, the finest oxen, the biggest house. One season, the rains failed. Arun’s modest yield was enough to feed his family. Bala, whose ambitions stretched beyond his means, faced ruin. His debts mounted, his oxen were sold, and despair clouded his days. The following year, the rains returned generously. Arun, having learned contentment, shared his surplus. Bala, still consumed by what he lacked, remained perpetually unsatisfied, even amidst abundance. He saw only what others possessed. He toiled endlessly, yet peace eluded him. He was always chasing the next thing. Arun, however, found joy in the simple act of providing and lived peacefully.